Arsenal's poor run of form continued as they wasted the chance to finish top of Champions League Group B with defeat by Olympiakos in Athens.

A Gunners side featuring seven changes started well and Tomas Rosicky slotted them ahead shortly before half-time.

But Olympiakos equalised through a close-range finish by Giannis Maniatis and took a deserved lead thanks to Kostas Mitroglou's curling strike.

Arsenal had already qualified for the last 16 but came second in the pool.

That means they could face the likes of Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain or Borussia Dortmund in the last 16.

Post-match reaction

Image of Pat Nevin Pat Nevin BBC Radio 5 live

"The best team, by some distance, won tonight. Olympiakos out-passed this Arsenal side. Don't kid yourself: this was 2-1 going on 3-1 or 4-1. Arsenal's front four or six gave very little indeed. Arsene Wenger cut a frustrated figure and for most of the second half busied himself arguing with the officials on the touchline."

While they will be pleased to have reached the knockout stage for the 13th consecutive season, the Gunners have now won just four of their last 13 matches in all competitions.

Attention now turns to Saturday's visit of West Brom in the Premier League, where Arsenal sit 10th with only 21 points from 15 games.

This was the third time in four years they have lost at Olympiakos in their final group game, and the manner of their surrender should concern manager Arsene Wenger.

The Frenchman and his side complained bitterly about the award of a corner that led to the equaliser, but in truth an average Olympiakos team punished Arsenal for another poor defensive show.

It looked so different early on as the Gunners, away from their domestic troubles, played with a relative lack of pressure.

Wenger started Marouane Chamakh, Francis Coquelin and Sebastien Squillaci, with 20-year-old Jernade Meade given his full debut at left-back and five teenagers named on the substitutes' bench.

The alterations seemed to give Arsenal the freshness they needed and their 4-3-3 formation posed a reasonable attacking threat.

Gervinho, Chamakh and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all had early chances before Aaron Ramsey miscued from a fine position.

As is so often the problem, though, they looked vulnerable at the back - Thomas Vermaelen intercepted a Djamel Abdoun cross and Pablo Contreras saw a header cleared off the line by Rosicky.

It was a period of dominance for Olympiakos, but Arsenal held firm and then pushed forward again - and their reward arrived.

Gervinho advanced to the byline and played a pinpoint cut-back for Rosicky to clip an impressive first-time finish.

It was Rosicky's first goal since 6 March but would be the Czech's last contribution as he was replaced by Andrey Arshavin at half-time.

Arshavin missed two clear chances and that appeared to give the hosts and their noisy supporters renewed energy.

Then came the moment of controversy as Paulo Machado's header hit the post and went behind, only for a corner to be awarded for an apparent touch by the diving Wojciech Szczesny.

Following the resultant set-piece, Abdoun's centre was headed against Squillaci and fell to Maniatis, who forced the ball home.

Olympiakos were now in complete control and, moments after Rafik Djebbour somehow nodded wide, they struck again.

Manager Leonardo Jardim replaced Abdoun with Mitroglou - scorer of Olympiakos's goal at Emirates Stadium - and with almost his first touch the striker curled a brilliant finish past Szczesny.

That would prove the winner as Arsenal failed to muster a response.

Lineup, Bookings (5) & Substitutions (5)

Olympiakos

  • 01 Carroll
  • 02 Maniatis
  • 15 Contreras
  • 24 Manolas
  • 35 Torosidis
  • 05 Paulo Machado
  • 08 Fejsa Booked (Fuster - 60' )
  • 26 Diakite
  • 27 Greco
  • 93 Abdoun (Mitroglou - 72' )
  • 10 Djebbour (Ibagaza - 82' )

Substitutes

  • 42 Megyeri
  • 07 Ibagaza
  • 18 Ioannnis
  • 19 Fuster
  • 23 Siovas
  • 09 Pantelic
  • 11 Mitroglou

Arsenal

  • 01 Szczesny Booked
  • 05 Vermaelen
  • 18 Squillaci Booked
  • 25 Jenkinson
  • 07 Rosicky (Arshavin - 46' )
  • 15 Oxlade-Chamberlain
  • 16 Ramsey
  • 22 Coquelin Booked
  • 53 Meade (Angha - 83' )
  • 27 Gervinho
  • 29 Chamakh Booked

Substitutes

  • 60 Shea
  • 38 Angha
  • 48 Hajrovic
  • 55 Monteiro
  • 23 Arshavin
  • 67 Akpom
  • 39 Ansah
Ref: A Undiano Mallenco
Att: 30,000

Match Stats

Shots

15 7

On target

9 4

Corners

6 2

Fouls

10 14

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +2:13 Full time

Full Time The referee signals the end of the game.

90:00 +1:34

Direct free kick taken by Roy Carroll.

90:00 +1:34 Booking

Booking Marouane Chamakh is cautioned.

90:00 +1:29

Giannis Maniatis fouled by Marouane Chamakh, the ref awards a free kick.

89:56

The referee penalises Yao Gervinho for handball. Roy Carroll restarts play with the free kick.

88:32

The referee blows for offside. Wojciech Szczesny takes the free kick.

87:49

Free kick awarded for a foul by Francis Coquelin on Torrijos David Fuster. Direct free kick taken by Ricardo Paulo Machado.

87:04

Foul by Marouane Chamakh on Kostas Manolas, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Vassilis Torosidis.

83:58

Aaron Ramsey gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Pablo Contreras. Direct free kick taken by Drissa Diakite.

82:38 Substitution

Substitution (Arsenal) makes a substitution, with Martin Angha coming on for Jernade Meade.

82:20

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain sends in a cross.

81:05 Substitution

Substitution Ariel Ibagaza comes on in place of Rafik Djebbour.

79:48

Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

79:25

Inswinging corner taken by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Vassilis Torosidis makes a clearance.

79:10

Shot by Andrey Arshavin. Kostas Manolas gets a block in.

78:30

Ricardo Paulo Machado delivers the ball.

72:40 Goal scored

Goal - Kostas Mitroglou - Olymp'kos 2 - 1 Arsenal Kostas Mitroglou gets on the score sheet with a goal from just outside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Olympiacos 2-1 Arsenal.

72:40

Assist by Vassilis Torosidis.

72:40 Goal scored

Goal - Kostas Mitroglou - Olymp'kos 2 - 1 Arsenal Kostas Mitroglou scores a goal from just outside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Olympiacos 2-1 Arsenal.

71:06 Substitution

Substitution Kostas Mitroglou on for Djamel Abdoun.

69:40

Rafik Djebbour has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the target.

63:11

Ricardo Paulo Machado takes a shot. Wojciech Szczesny makes a save. Leandro Greco takes the outswinging corner, clearance by Thomas Vermaelen.

68:20

The assistant referee signals for offside against Leandro Greco. Wojciech Szczesny takes the free kick.

68:00

Yao Gervinho is ruled offside. Free kick taken by Roy Carroll.

66:10

Ricardo Paulo Machado has an effort direct from the free kick, save by Wojciech Szczesny.

66:10 Booking

Booking Sebastien Squillaci is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

64:54

Sebastien Squillaci gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Leandro Greco.

64:54 Booking

Booking Wojciech Szczesny is given a yellow card.

64:05 Goal scored

Goal - Giannis Maniatis - Olymp'kos 1 - 1 Arsenal Giannis Maniatis fires in a goal from close range high into the middle of the goal. Olympiacos 1-1 Arsenal.

68:20

The referee blows for offside against Torrijos David Fuster. Wojciech Szczesny takes the free kick.

63:11

Ricardo Paulo Machado takes a shot. Wojciech Szczesny makes a save. Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Djamel Abdoun from the right by-line, clearance by Thomas Vermaelen.

61:02

Andrey Arshavin takes a shot. Brilliant save by Roy Carroll.

60:01

Torrijos David Fuster has an effort at goal from 20 yards. Save by Wojciech Szczesny.

59:13 Substitution

Substitution (Olympiacos) makes a substitution, with Torrijos David Fuster coming on for Ljubomir Fejsa.

58:53

Shot by Ljubomir Fejsa from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the goal.

54:00

Leandro Greco restarts play with the free kick.

54:00 Booking

Booking Booking for Francis Coquelin for unsporting behaviour.

53:29

Leandro Greco fouled by Francis Coquelin, the ref awards a free kick.

52:57

Centre by Marouane Chamakh, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Andrey Arshavin goes harmlessly over the crossbar.

51:45

Sebastien Squillaci challenges Leandro Greco unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ricardo Paulo Machado takes the free kick.

50:19

Aaron Ramsey has a direct shot on goal from the free kick.

50:19 Booking

Booking Ljubomir Fejsa goes into the referee's book.

50:09

Free kick awarded for a foul by Ljubomir Fejsa on Yao Gervinho.

49:18

Unfair challenge on Yao Gervinho by Pablo Contreras results in a free kick. Aaron Ramsey delivers the ball, Marouane Chamakh takes a shot. Roy Carroll makes a save.

48:50

Foul by Pablo Contreras on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, free kick awarded. Yao Gervinho takes the free kick.

48:20

Giannis Maniatis takes a shot. Sebastien Squillaci gets a block in.

47:55

Carl Jenkinson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Leandro Greco. Ricardo Paulo Machado takes the direct free kick.

47:08

The ball is delivered by Andrey Arshavin, Marouane Chamakh gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Roy Carroll. Roy Carroll takes the free kick.

46:41

Foul by Pablo Contreras on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, free kick awarded. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Aaron Ramsey from right channel.

46:19

A cross is delivered by Andrey Arshavin, clearance by Pablo Contreras.

45:01

The game restarts for the second half.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Andrey Arshavin comes on in place of Tomas Rosicky.

45:00 +0:15 Half time

Half Time The referee blows for half time.

44:46

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Carl Jenkinson by Vassilis Torosidis. Wojciech Szczesny takes the direct free kick.

42:15

Corner from the left by-line taken by Djamel Abdoun, save made by Wojciech Szczesny.

41:41

Centre by Drissa Diakite, Thomas Vermaelen manages to make a clearance.

39:21

Ricardo Paulo Machado sends in a cross.

37:49

Yao Gervinho provided the assist for the goal.

37:49 Goal scored

Goal - Tomas Rosicky - Olymp'kos 0 - 1 Arsenal Tomas Rosicky scores a goal from just inside the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Olympiacos 0-1 Arsenal.

36:38

Francis Coquelin challenges Ljubomir Fejsa unfairly and gives away a free kick. Leandro Greco crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from right channel, Sebastien Squillaci manages to make a clearance.

34:18

Foul by Drissa Diakite on Marouane Chamakh, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Tomas Rosicky.

33:51

Djamel Abdoun produces a left-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the right of the goal.

33:18

Vassilis Torosidis delivers the ball, clearance made by Sebastien Squillaci.

31:55

Ricardo Paulo Machado sends in a cross, clearance by Sebastien Squillaci.

29:13

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Tomas Rosicky by Kostas Manolas. Direct free kick taken by Thomas Vermaelen.

27:46

Tomas Rosicky concedes a free kick for a foul on Giannis Maniatis. Roy Carroll takes the direct free kick.

25:18

Shot from deep inside the area by Vassilis Torosidis clears the bar.

23:29

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Djamel Abdoun from the left by-line, Rafik Djebbour takes a shot. Wojciech Szczesny makes a fantastic save.

23:10

Djamel Abdoun takes a shot. Save by Wojciech Szczesny.

21:07

Centre by Ricardo Paulo Machado, save by Wojciech Szczesny.

19:31

Corner from the right by-line taken by Leandro Greco, Vassilis Torosidis takes a shot. Blocked by Wojciech Szczesny.

19:14

Ricardo Paulo Machado crosses the ball, Thomas Vermaelen gets a block in.

16:48

The ball is crossed by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

15:46

Vassilis Torosidis takes a shot. Blocked by Carl Jenkinson.

13:48

Francis Coquelin gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Leandro Greco. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Ricardo Paulo Machado from left channel, clearance by Thomas Vermaelen.

13:16

Marouane Chamakh is ruled offside. Roy Carroll restarts play with the free kick.

11:40

Giannis Maniatis gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Tomas Rosicky. Thomas Vermaelen takes the direct free kick.

11:28

Short corner worked by Ricardo Paulo Machado.

10:46

A cross is delivered by Djamel Abdoun, Thomas Vermaelen manages to make a clearance.

9:14

Djamel Abdoun takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post.

8:39

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jernade Meade by Ricardo Paulo Machado. Jernade Meade takes the free kick.

6:53

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain crosses the ball.

6:01

Djamel Abdoun takes a shot. Save by Wojciech Szczesny.

3:57

Marouane Chamakh challenges Kostas Manolas unfairly and gives away a free kick. Kostas Manolas takes the free kick.

3:40

The assistant referee flags for offside against Rafik Djebbour. Wojciech Szczesny takes the direct free kick.

3:17

Marouane Chamakh challenges Kostas Manolas unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Kostas Manolas.

1:44

Free kick awarded for a foul by Leandro Greco on Sebastien Squillaci. Direct free kick taken by Sebastien Squillaci.

1:01

Shot by Yao Gervinho from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the goal.

0:00

The referee gets the game started.

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